Klystron tube grid shipping container



1954 H. L. JAMES 3,144,126

KLYSTRON TUBE GRID SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 17, 1962 INVENTOR.HERBERT L. JAMES BY r ay -aw ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,144,126KLYSTRUN TUBE GRID SHIPPING CONTAINER Herbert L. James, Attleboro, Mass,assignor to Chornerics, Incorporated, Plainville, Mass., a corporationof Delaware Filed Dec. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 245,258 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-1)This invention relates to an improved shipping container for fragileklystron tube grids, especially one that permits easy visual inspectionof the grids before and after shipment.

Klystron tube grids are quite small and fragile. They are usually roundwith a diameter of A to A inch and a thickness of 0.005 to 0.020 inch.The grids have an outer containing ring which contains elements in theform of spokes, vanes, honeycomb structure and the like. The outer ringmay have a wall thickness as low as 0.010 inch and the elements usuallyhave a thickness in the order of 0.005 to 0.0015 inch. Copper is a metalcustomarily used to fabricate the grids and it is usually annealedduring the manufacturing procedure.

Inspection and shipment of grids in quantity without damage has been aserious problem. Careless and unnecessary handling usually results inbreakage. Looseness or rattling in the shipment container has been knownto cause the grids to become out of round.

The shipping container of the present invention is of a simpleinexpensive rugged design that securely holds numerous grids and permitsready visual inspection of the grids before and after shipment withoutthe necessity of removing them from the container.

The drawing attached to and forming a part of this specification is anexploded perspective view of the klystron tube grid shipping container.

Referring to the drawing, the shipping container comprises a rigid flatbase 1 preferably of a plastic such as a polyethylene or polystyreneabout /8 inch thick. The base can have any shape but round is preferredbecause it permits center hold down without the top swiveling out ofalignment. The base may have a shoulder (not shown) encompassing the lidor cover, or the cover may have a downturned edge (not shown) toencompass the base. The base is preferably opaque such as white or blackso that the grids will visually stand out.

One face of the base has numerous indentations 2 matching the size ofthe grids to be contained therein and having a depth equal to that ofthe grids.

The mating top cover 3 consists of a transparent rigid material such asa polystyrene, glass or an acrylate about inch thick. It fits flushagainst the face of base 1 and thus snugly holds the grids in place.While other means of attaching the top cover can be used such as hingesor clamps, a central thumb screw 4 is preferred because of itssimplicity and effectiveness and because of its contribution to the overall appearance of the holder. Central hold down with the round shape assures that the cover can not swivel out of place.

Having described this invention, what is sought to be protected byLetters Patent is succinctly set forth in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A klystron tube grid shipping container comprising a rigid flat circularopaque base, the upper surface thereof being provided with a pluralityof compartment recesses having a size and shape corresponding to andreceiving klystron tube grids therein, and a mating rigid transparentcover fitting tightly against said upper surface of said base closingsaid recesses and secured to said base with a centrally located handdemountable means, said cover permitting visual inspection of saidklystron tube grids therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,717,470 Holdeman Sept. 13, 1955 2,760,104 Garbuny et a1 Aug. 21, 19562,953,242 Shaw Sept. 20, 1960 2,965,219 Rhodin Dec. 20, 1960

